The Falmouth School District suffered a major loss when second-grade teacher -- and Maine teacher of the year -- Kevin Grover died suddenly.

Grover, 40, died from a heart attack on Thanksgiving Day. Since then, his students have learned to deal with the loss.

On Thursday, the students celebrated his memory, thanks to fellow students at Chebeague Island Elementary school.

Chebeague students also know something about loss. In 2010, Anne Ormsby, the school's longtime cook, died from breast cancer. Students said she always made them something special.

When the Chebeague kids learned about the sudden death of Grover, they reached out to help. They sent cookies, teddy bears and cards.

"We felt the same way they did when a few years back, we lost our lunch lady and we thought we knew how they felt, so we decided we would write them cards and give them teddy bears and some other stuff," said a student.

The kids in Falmouth responded with books and cookies back.

Since November, this friendship has grown.

On Thursday, the Falmouth Elementary second-grade class traveled to the island to meet their new friends and remember their teachers.

Students said it has helped them deal with their loss.

"I think it shows the power of a smile, the power of a gesture," said Carol MacNaught, of Falmouth Elementary School.

The students painted rocks, went to the beach and created a sea stone monument before taking a moment to remember their beloved teachers.

"I know that they're looking down and they're smiling," said one student.

"(Grover) would be really proud of our class to go through this and still have a smile," said second-grader Patty Riley.

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